Drainage tube



Jan. 14, 1958 Filed July 16, 1955 l. H. GOLDMAN 2,819,718

DRAINAE' TUBE Z'SheetS-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- 1.5100125 -H. GaLDMAN Jan. 14,1958 l. H. GOLDMAN DRAINAGE TUBE 2 Shegts-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1953INVENTOR. (8/0025 H. GOLD/YUM 9 Q v i X United States PatentDRAINAGETUBE Isidore H. Goldman, New York; N. Y.. Application July 16,1953, Serial No. 368,375 a Claims. (Cl.128-'-350)f This inventionrelates to catheters; This invention has as its mainobjectthe'alleviation of pain and discomfort caused by' the conventional-typeof catheter wherein the retention means wheninflated causes' acompression of the tube thereatresulting in painand discomfort byinability to void at a rate sufficient to relieve the pressure of thewaste products.

Catheters currently in use-consistessentially of a flexible elongatedtube terminating in a closed poi'nted end adapted'to be inserted intothe urinaryorotherbladderor opening of the body and are'provided"nearsaid pointed end' with openings for drainage. Thesecathetersare-further provided with inflatable members adjacent said drainageopenings whereby to retain the closedendof the catheter within thebladder and also with independent drainage and inflation ducts'extendingto the outer open endofthe device. However, sincethe walls'ofl'thedrainage duct also form the inner walls for the inflatableportion, theair or other compressedfluid within theinilatabIe portion tends tocollapse the walls of the drainage'du'ct inwardly, seriously impairingthe effectiveness of the device.

It is accordingly a principal-object of the present invention to providean improved catheter of'the type having inflatable retention meanswherein collapse of the walls of the drainage-duct is prevented when theretention means are inflated.

It is another object of present invention to provide an drawing. It isto be noted that the drawing is intended to serve the purpose ofillustration only, and that it is neither desired nor intended to limitthe invention necessary to any or all of the exact details ofconstruction shown except insofar as they may be deemed essential to theinvention.

Referring briefly to the drawing,

Figure l is a perspective view of a catheter embodying the features ofthe present invention and with the retention means shown deflated;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the retention means inflated andthe device operative for use;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the retention meansinflated Within the bladder walls;

"ice

Fig. 6 is aperspective-view ofthe-insert preventing eollapse of thedrainage duct, shown alone;

Fig. 7 isaview similar to Fig. 5 of a conventional catheter showing thecollapse of thedrainage duct'walls upon inflation of the retentionmeans; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2' but showing' a modifiedform of-the'invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, ltl-represents an elongatedflexible tubeof rubber or other suitable material having a closed;pointed end 11 to facilitate insertion intothe urethra or otherbodyopening, the outer open end of the tube: ltl beingflared'outwardly...as at 12- and terminating in a relatively largecylindrical portion13.

The outer open end of the cylindrical vportion vided with asuitablestopper.14 (Eig.44.).

The tube 10* adjacent the-pointed end11 is provi ed withsuitabledrainage openings 15..

The interior of'the tube 101at=one side is reinforced-1a at 16, thisreinforced portion extending from near the openings 15 to near theflaredportioni1-2 andi being provided with an inflationductli" oversubstantially: the length thereof.

The tube 10 adjacent the outwardly flaredportion'. 12 is integrallyformed with a substantially L-shaped tube 18having an outwardly flaredouter open end 19 andcomrnunicating with the inflation duct-17;

The tube 10 near the drainageopenings 15 is providd with anannular slit20p1'ovidin g an annular outer membrane 21 (Fig. 2). The upper end-ofthedrainage duct 17 communicates with the annular slit 2tlby. meanszofcacut out or opening 22 (Figs. 2 and 3).

A hollow insert 23 of substantially crescent-shaped cross section tofacilitate fluid'flowf in the inflationmeans is positioned within thetube lowithin the portion thereof having the annular slit 20, theconcave-portion 24iofsthe insert snugly receiving therewithin thecorrespondingly shaped reinforced portion 16 having the inflationduct-'17 It will be noted that the construction permitsthe membrane 21,when collapsed, to present a smooth exterior to the tube 10' and tothereby facilitate the insertionand removal of the same between thewalls 25-- of the bladder.

Reinforcing tubes, I10USh0Wl1; may beprovidedwithin the inflation duct17 during use.

To inflate the membrane 21 to the positions of Figs. 4 and 5, a handpump, not shown, or other suitable inflating means may be connected tothe flared portion 19 of the tube 18. After inflation of the membrane21, the tube 18 is doubled up, as shown in Fig. 4, and closed off with arubber band 26, or other suitable means.

Thus, the catheter will be retained in the proper position within thebladder walls 25 by means of the inflated membrane 21 after the catheterhas been inserted to the proper position.

The insert 23 prevents the inward movement of the walls surrounding thedrainage duct 27 when the membrane 21 is inflated. Were it not for theinsert 23, the walls of the drainage duct 27 would be forced inwardly,as shown in Fig. 7, and preventing the proper drainage of the bodyliquid passing into the tube through the drainage openings 15.

The insert 23 may be fabricated of any suitable material which will notbe affected by the drainage liquid, its only requirement being that ithave sutficient rigidity to prevent the collapsing of the drainage duct27 within the membrane portion 21. This member 23 may be molded oraflixed integrally with the catheter during production or this portionof the catheter may be treated for greater hardness and rigidityduringvulcanization.

By providing the insert 23, it will be apparent that greater pressuremay be exerted within the membrane 21, without closing the drainage duct27, permitting a 13 isprogreater expansion of the membrane and greatercontrol of the internal pressure upon the walls 25. This is particularlyimportant when it is desired to control bleeding from blood vesselsWithin the walls 25 in post-operative cases.

Also, while in the drawing the invention has been shown in connectionwith a catheter having one inflation duct 17, it will be readilyapparent that several inflation ducts may be provided on opposite sidesof the tube, and that the present invention is equally applicable insuch cases. Also, while there has been shown an annular membrane 21, itwill be apparent that the invention is equally applicable to cases wherea plurality of independent membranes 21 are provided for retaining thecatheter within the bladder or wound.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 8, there is shown a modified form ofthe invention wherein the insert 23a of substantially crescent-shapedcross section is now formed from a continuous strip of spring wire.

In other respects the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 is the sameas that shown in Figs. 1 through 7, and like reference numerals identifylike parts throughout the several views.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A catheter comprising an elongated flexible tube having a closedinner end provided with drainage openings, inflatable membrane meansProvided in said tube near said drainage openings, inflation duct meanscommunicating with said inflatable membrane means, and a rigid hollowsection forming part of said tube and formed of the same materialadjacent said membrane means whereby to prevent collapse of the maindrainage opening within said tube upon inflation of said membrane means.

2. In combination, a catheter tube having an external and inflatableretention wall portion adjacent the opening of said tube, a removableinsert within the tube and opposite the retention wall portion, saidinsert comprising a hollow member open at both ends and being relativelyrigid.

3. A catheter comprising an elongated flexible tube having a centraldrainage duct, said tube being closed at 4 one end provided withdrainage openings communicating 4 with said, drainage duct, the interiorof said tube atleast one side being integrally formed with a reinforcedportion, said reinforced portion having an inflation duct extendingsubstantially the length thereof, said tube surrounding the end of saidinflation duct near said drainage openings being provided with at leastone slit providing at least one outer membrane, said inflation ductcommunicating with said slit, and a hollow insert open at both endsadapted to fit snugly within said drainage opening within the portion ofsaid tube having said slit whereby to prevent closing of said drainageduct upon inflation of said membrane.

4. A catheter according to claim 3, said tube at the end remote fromsaid closed end having an enlarged substantially cylindrical portionopen at its outer end, said tube further having an auxiliary tubeintegrally formed therein and communicating with said inflation duct,said auxiliary tube having an enlarged open outer end.

5. A catheter according to claim 3, said insert having a concave portionadapted to receive therewithin said reinforced portion.

6. A catheter according to claim 5, said insert being formed from aunitary piece of non-corrosive material.

7. A catheter according to claim 5, said insert being formed from acontinuous strip of spring wire.

8. In the combination of claim 2, said hollow member being substantiallycrescent-shaped in .cross section and 'formed from a unitary piece ofnon-corrosive material.

9. In the combination of claim 2, said hollow member being substantiallycrescent-shaped in cross section and formed from a continuous strip ofspring wire.

10. A catheter comprising a hollow tube having inflatable retentionmeans near one end thereof, a hollow insert open at both ends andfrictionally fixed within and adjacent the end of said tube and Withinsaid retention means whereby to prevent obstruction of the central boreof said tube when said retention means are inflated.

References Cited in the file of this patent

